Mehbooba accuses NC Minister of demanding Rs 30 lakh for transfer, posting

Budgam, May 09: Dropping a political bombshell over the ruling National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday alleged that a minister in the present, National Conference regime demanded Rs 30 lakh from an officer for ‘a transfer posting’.

She, according to the news agency said that when the officer approached NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah with the complaint, he was allegedly told to “talk to the minister” as he was their treasurer.

The PDP Chief, however, did not disclose the identity of the officer or the minister concerned.

However, NC’s state spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar termed allegations levelled by Mehbooba Mufti as “baseless.’

Addressing a workers’ convention in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, Mehbooba Mufti accused the NC-led government of corruption, failing to fulfil electoral promises and ignoring public concerns.

She said the people of Budgam had given a strong message against what she termed as broken promises and injustice by electing a young representative to the Assembly despite the might of the ruling establishment.

She alleged that the present government had failed to address pressing public issues and was allegedly blocking several pro-people proposals raised by the PDP in the Assembly.

Targeting the government over employment and education, Mehbooba referred to the demand for establishment of a National Law University (NLU) in Budgam and said promises made during elections had remained confined to speeches.

The former chief minister also expressed concern over what she described as attempts to weaken the position of Urdu in Jammu and Kashmir.

She said the Urdu language was deeply linked with the culture, literature and identity of the region and should not be sidelined in recruitment examinations and official procedures.

Mehbooba further raised concern over increasing unemployment and growing drug abuse among youth, saying the younger generation was facing uncertainty, fear and frustration.

Referring to the situation after 2019, Mehbooba alleged that the atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir has deteriorated and young people are facing immense pressure and uncertainty.

She also questioned the administration’s approach towards youth-related issues and said creating fear would not solve the growing social crisis.

On anti-drug measures, the PDP president supported strict action against drug peddlers but said innocent family members should not be targeted for crimes committed by individuals.

Mehbooba further accused the ruling setup of failing to provide relief to people struggling with unemployment, inflation and social distress, while asserting that PDP would continue to raise public issues both inside and outside the Assembly—(KNO).